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ES-14 SUMMIT

See also: ES-20 SORT

V2 Change log:
- Fixed mod-polluted solar panels
- Added a pair of angled panels on the top for better appearance
- Inner structure overhaul

ES-14 SUMMIT (European Spacecraft model 14, Spaceborne Ultracold Multipurpose Multiband Infrared Telescope) is a mature and affortable solution for non-cutting-edge IR space telescopes. Such telescopes are needed in quantities for asteroid early warning networks or other average purposes, and people don’t want to launch ultra-expensive Webb-like telescopes for these relatively simple jobs.

Just like its appearance suggests, SUMMIT is a redesign of the old but reliable Spitzer Space Telescope launched in 2003. Spitzer is still operating after more than 15 years, even after its liquid helium used to cool the instruments to 1.4K (thus Ultracold) runs out after its planned mission duration of 5 years.

The word "summit" can be translated into German as "Spitze", likely a nod to its original design.
Man, thinking up an abbreviation that makes sense both in short and long form is so much fun.

I got a telescope contract and decided to build a Spitzer for it. I made a much more complicated replica, but was not quite satisfied with the result. It was somehow too bulky for me. The idea to streamline and simplifiy it came up when I saw this beatiful telescope created by CoyoteFoxtrot: https://kerbalx.com/CoyoteFoxtrot/MSOW-Vigilant-Space-Observer
Then the SUMMIT was born, and I like it.
I lerned a lot about the Spitzer telescope from this website: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/mission/100-The-Spacecraft
If you are also interested, it definitly worth a visit.

Control from the HECS core inside the golden spacecraft bus.
100% stock, 59 parts, 5.8 t. Root part is the forward tube section.
Lifter excluded for better preview picture. Version with lifter at KerbalX: https://kerbalx.com/Juggernoob/ES-14-SUMMIT